Market Voices and the Declaration's Ideas

A Voice in the Market Plan

The fifth-grade class at Cedar Grove School was asked to suggest a plan for a Saturday farmers market on the school lawn. The market would give nearby growers and bakers a place to sell food. Before writing its proposal, the class studied ideas from the Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776.

The Declaration says that people possess rights that do not come from a ruler. It names life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as examples of these rights. It also says that people are created equal. This statement presents a principle about the rights of people, not a claim that every person has the same talents, money, or job.

The document explains that governments are formed to secure people's rights. It says that the just powers of government come from the consent of the governed. In other words, government has a responsibility to the people, and people must have a meaningful role in giving or withholding their agreement. The Declaration also says that people may change a government that fails to protect their rights.

The Declaration lists complaints against King George III. These grievances explain why the writers believed the king's government had failed its responsibilities. The document therefore connects its ideas to a political argument: government should protect rights and answer to the people.

The class proposal used these ideas. It suggested that any local grower or baker who met the same health rules could apply for a market space. It also asked the town council to hold a public meeting before choosing the rules. At the meeting, residents could speak, ask questions, and vote on the proposal. The class knew that the Declaration's ideals were not fully practiced in 1776; many people, including women, enslaved people, and others, were excluded from political power. Studying both the ideals and that history helps people judge whether government lives up to its principles.